Blur - Perth, 30th July 2015
Words: Todd Lockley
Let's get one thing off the chest good and early, Blur are so much better than Oasis. 15 years ago called and they want their argument back! This reviewer has now seen both bands live and Blur were so much better. The end.
While Perth Arena might’ve been at half capacity, it was a nice change for those on the sweaty dance floor, with plenty of room to move and breathe. A respectable attendance greeted Jamie T who looked just a little weathered from the hectic Splendour schedule. Maybe too many shandies in the mud?
Mr T and his A Team backing band waltzed through a lengthy set (for a support act), which opened with Limits Lie, Don't You Find and Turn On The Lights, but the crowd didn't really wake up til Rabbit Hole was unleashed from the burrow. Surprisingly, debut album Panic Prevention didn't get a single look in. However, effervescent Stick And Stones kept the toes tapping till the swaying dead crowd crept on to Zombie.
The houselights dimmed as the London lads from Blur strolled out to what seemed like a relieved crowd. It had been nearly 20 years since they had been to Perth and Damon Albarn made it quite clear from the get go that proceedings were gonna be jam packed with fun. As the band kicked off with The Magic Whip tour opener Go Out, he shook hands with the front row, pointed at familiar faces in the crowd and showered anybody within eye sight with bottled water. He must’ve gone through at least 50 bottles by the end of the night.
It must be said, it was good to see them back! The cheeky front man’s gold teethy grin was like catching up with an old cousin you hadn't seen in ages. The ever groovy Alex James and heavy hitting of drummer Dave Rowntree shone through on There's No Other Way, the first of eight tracks from what’s undeniably the band's best album, Parklife. It was the start of a celebration for those who had waited nearly 20 years to hear those songs live.
While Perth Arena might’ve been at half capacity, it was a nice change for those on the sweaty dance floor, with plenty of room to move and breathe. A respectable attendance greeted Jamie T who looked just a little weathered from the hectic Splendour schedule. Maybe too many shandies in the mud?
Mr T and his A Team backing band waltzed through a lengthy set (for a support act), which opened with Limits Lie, Don't You Find and Turn On The Lights, but the crowd didn't really wake up til Rabbit Hole was unleashed from the burrow. Surprisingly, debut album Panic Prevention didn't get a single look in. However, effervescent Stick And Stones kept the toes tapping till the swaying dead crowd crept on to Zombie.
The houselights dimmed as the London lads from Blur strolled out to what seemed like a relieved crowd. It had been nearly 20 years since they had been to Perth and Damon Albarn made it quite clear from the get go that proceedings were gonna be jam packed with fun. As the band kicked off with The Magic Whip tour opener Go Out, he shook hands with the front row, pointed at familiar faces in the crowd and showered anybody within eye sight with bottled water. He must’ve gone through at least 50 bottles by the end of the night.
It must be said, it was good to see them back! The cheeky front man’s gold teethy grin was like catching up with an old cousin you hadn't seen in ages. The ever groovy Alex James and heavy hitting of drummer Dave Rowntree shone through on There's No Other Way, the first of eight tracks from what’s undeniably the band's best album, Parklife. It was the start of a celebration for those who had waited nearly 20 years to hear those songs live.
Albarn picked up an acoustic guitar and faded into the shadows as the ever nerdy looking axe man Graham Coxon took over the vocals for the couch chilled bliss of Coffee And TV, before Out Of Time, the trudging Beetlebum and Thought I was a Spaceman sifted around the curtain covered silver sections. At one point, poor James was floored by a crunching Albarn hip and shoulder, before the lead man ventured his way deep into the crowd, as the stage hands frantically lassoed lengths of microphone cord to keep the show going.
Tender slowed things to a halt, before the frantic brilliance of Trouble In The Message Centre awoke the shoe gazers for an all out "lalalala" singalong. It was the starting gun for all that is epic, as a few young bucks "dressed like they were from the 90's" joined the band onstage for Parklife. One of the cheeky little buggers snatched the mic before Albarn could get to it to recite the Phil Daniels first verse, before finishing off with selfies and all-in hugs with the band.
A flood of bodies towards the stage erupted as "Woo Hoo's" rang out around the Arena, and an all in mosh-athon signalled Song 2. As sweat dripped down all around, the pace went down again for To The End and all too soon the beautiful breath of fresh nostalgia that is This Is A Low rang out as the band walked off stage, signalling the end of the main set.
1995's The Great Escape's opener and finest moment, Stereotypes, kicked off a rollicking encore, before the bouncy brit pop anthem Girls And Boys had everyone tongue twisting and hugging their closest friends or closest stranger.
The Universal was a fitting finale for what was a fantastic evening of songs of yesteryear. The crowd all sang "it really, really, really could happen" as if Blur coming back in the next 20 years was a possibility. We can only hope, ‘cause god damn it was well and truly worth the wait.
Tender slowed things to a halt, before the frantic brilliance of Trouble In The Message Centre awoke the shoe gazers for an all out "lalalala" singalong. It was the starting gun for all that is epic, as a few young bucks "dressed like they were from the 90's" joined the band onstage for Parklife. One of the cheeky little buggers snatched the mic before Albarn could get to it to recite the Phil Daniels first verse, before finishing off with selfies and all-in hugs with the band.
A flood of bodies towards the stage erupted as "Woo Hoo's" rang out around the Arena, and an all in mosh-athon signalled Song 2. As sweat dripped down all around, the pace went down again for To The End and all too soon the beautiful breath of fresh nostalgia that is This Is A Low rang out as the band walked off stage, signalling the end of the main set.
1995's The Great Escape's opener and finest moment, Stereotypes, kicked off a rollicking encore, before the bouncy brit pop anthem Girls And Boys had everyone tongue twisting and hugging their closest friends or closest stranger.
The Universal was a fitting finale for what was a fantastic evening of songs of yesteryear. The crowd all sang "it really, really, really could happen" as if Blur coming back in the next 20 years was a possibility. We can only hope, ‘cause god damn it was well and truly worth the wait.